brainer
Obvious choice, informally
A brainer is something that requires thought or mental effort, almost always encountered with a modifier indicating how much: a no-brainer requires none, while a two-brainer or three-brainer demands progressively more consideration.
The word exists mainly to be negated—no-brainer is common, but brainer alone is rare outside humorous or deliberate constructions.
Puzzle demanding clever thought
- riddlePuzzling question to solve
- conundrumPerplexing problem or question
- enigmaSomething hard to fathom
- crosswordClue-based letter grid
sudoku · cryptogram · maze · whodunit · anagram · rebus · tangram · trivia
One who contemplates
- geniusPerson of rare brilliance
- mastermindScheme's chief planner
- savantPerson of profound learning
- prodigyGifted youth with rare talent
scholar · polymath · egghead · whiz · brainiac · know-it-all · intellectual · cerebral
Mental reasoning process
- reasoningDrawing logical conclusions
- problem-solvingAddressing challenges methodically
- cognitionMental knowledge acquisition
- concentrationSustained single-minded attention
focus · analysis · deduction · logic · contemplation · deliberation · reflection
brainteaser
Puzzle demanding clever thought
- riddlePuzzling question to solve
- conundrumPerplexing problem or question
- enigmaSomething hard to fathom
crossword · sudoku · cryptogram · maze · whodunit · anagram · rebus · tangram · trivia · quiz
thinker
One who contemplates
- geniusPerson of rare brilliance
- mastermindScheme's chief planner
- savantPerson of profound learning
prodigy · scholar · polymath · egghead · whiz · brainiac · know-it-all · intellectual · cerebral · highbrow
thinking
Mental reasoning process
- reasoningDrawing logical conclusions
- problem-solvingAddressing challenges methodically
- cognitionMental knowledge acquisition
concentration · focus · analysis · deduction · logic · contemplation · deliberation · reflection
cinch
Guaranteed easy thing
brainerno-brainer
Self-evident decision
cinch · slam dunk · piece of cake · gimme · child's play
- brain damageHarm to neural tissue
- brain surgeryOperating on cranial tissue
- brain freezePain from cold foods
- brain cellsNeural tissue components
- brain deadIrreversibly unconscious
- brain surgeonPhysician operating on craniums
brain, brainy, brainless, brainstorm, brainpower, brainchild, brained, birdbrained, brainwave